Breast is best

Health benefits of breastfeeding continue to add up

Bridie Smith About 18 per cent of Australian mothers are still breastfeeding their infants at six months of age, a figure many health professionals want increased.

Safe sleeping for children up to two years of age

Kidsafe Information for parents and caregivers - Simple strategies such as sleeping infants on their backs, can result in extremely successful outcomes in the reduction of deaths such as those attributed to SIDS.

Get your groove back: how to stay sane when everyone calls you Mum

There are times when every parent longs for their childless days and pre-kids fun like the carefree Sunday morning sleep in after a night of bottomless margaritas.

Oral health for babies and toddlers

Australian Dental Association To raise awareness about the importance of caring for your baby’s oral health from the moment they are born, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) has launched a website to assist parents with tips on preventative oral care for babies and toddlers.

Understanding your baby's brain

Kathy Walker Many parents understandably assume that a new born baby is simply a blank slate that requires us to do everything for them and that they really are incapable of anything other than crying, drinking and sleeping or not, as the case may be!

Five myths about motherhood

Dr Mataji Kennedy I see a number of women in my private practice who have moved from full-time work into full-time motherhood. Let's face it, it's a big transition and we aren't always well prepared for it. Motherhood is joyous and it's also hard work.

Developmental milestones: the first six months

It is important to realise that babies developmental progress varies greatly. Some children may miss out on developmental milestones all together - such as crawling.

Baby's first month: development, medical and sleep

Brooke Wells Congratulations you have a brand new addition to your family! Whether it is your first or fifth plenty of Mums can't remember exactly what's it's like to have newborn, so find out about baby's first month on Essential Baby.

Baby's first month: breastfeeding

Brooke Wells Breastfeeding is often the first real challenge mothers face with their newborns. Rest assured there is plenty of advice and help to encourage and support you with this important job.

Baby's second month: development, medical and sleep

Brooke Wells Early experiences are significant in shaping babies minds. A baby can begin to communicate as early as two months and will be able to smile and coo although crying is still his main form of expressing their needs.

Baby's second month: SIDS

Brooke Wells There is no known reason for SIDS but it is believed to be related to a baby’s inability to wake up when breathing irregularly, as part of a larger defect of the arcuate nucleus in the brain or elsewhere in the body that goes undetected.

Baby's third month: development, medical and sleep

Brooke Wells Setting aside time a couple of times each day to have fun with your baby is important both for your baby’s development and for your relationship with your baby.

Baby's third month: routines

Brooke Wells A structured routine is not the same thing as a schedule. A schedule is about time slots whereas routine is about keeping up the same daily pattern and repeating that pattern every day.

Baby's fourth month: development, medical and sleep

Brooke Wells By the age of four months, your baby will be able to follow a moving object with her eyes and look around and smile at people she sees frequently.

Baby's fourth month: delayed development

Brooke Wells In most instances, babies reach each developmental milestones like rolling over, sitting, walking, and talking right around the expected time, and if they don't they catch up soon.

Baby's fifth month: development, medical and sleep

Brooke Wells Your baby will still be learning hand-eye co-ordination and will use his mouth to explore objects

Baby's fifth month: teething

Brooke Wells Tooth eruption rate is hereditary so if you or your baby’s father had teeth come in early or late, this is a good indication of how your own baby’s teeth will come in.

Baby's sixth month: development, medical and sleep

Brooke Wells Your baby might have realised that he can use rolling as a way to transport himself, or he may skip it altogether and move on to sitting, lunging, and crawling.

Baby's sixth month: weaning

Brooke Wells There are a number of signs your baby will give you when they are ready to be weaned and start eating solids including showing a curiosity in food, chewing or lipsmacking.

Amity Dry's blog

What it means to be Mum

Amity Dry Being a mum is such a uniting force, it is the ultimate common ground. It doesn’t matter what your background is, what your current or previous career was, what your income, where you live or what your life choices are – once you’re a mum we are all inherently the same.

Kylie Orr's blog

Birth choices: women vs medical fraternity

Kylie Orr I’ve had three babies. All different models of care and all individual experiences with varying outcomes. Well, they were all babies not assorted jungle creatures, so in that sense, the end product was the same.

Feature Member

Four babies, four very different births

Nicole Salinas It’s quite a common assumption that if you have one type of birth then your subsequent births may be fairly similar. For Essential Baby member Sylvia this certainly wasn't the case.

New Dad's Guide

A soon-to-be-Dad's acquaintances fall into two camps: childless friends who tease you about impending loss of freedom, and friends with kids who point out the big highs.

Are babies boring?

Joseph Kelly So it looked like I was in danger of becoming a dreaded Bad Parent. If things kept going the way they were we were about to become a divided household, split into the Maisie Lobby and the Frances Lobby.

The decision - I want a baby

Juliana Fridman We want a little version (hopefully a better version) of the mix between us. We have so much love to give and sharing with another one it will only make it bigger. So let’s go for it!

The discovery, fears and celebrations

Juliana Fridman I will never forget, after a 50 minute ultrasound, the most senior specialist looked at me showing 3 fingers and said, “Congratulations, you’re having triplets.”

Ok, we're pregnant. What now?

Juliana Fridman I was in tears for days, confused and worried. What does that mean? Am I going to survive? Do they fit? Is it going to damage my organs? How do we move from here? And what about the financial aspects? Someone please shed some light.

Pregnancy Do's and Don'ts

Juliana Fridman The Do’s and Don’ts (for pregnant woman as well as for friends around pregnant ones)

The second Trimester, a whole new Journey

Juliana Fridman I was one of those lucky people where the second trimester was a whole new world. No more throwing up every night and morning, no more feeling so tired and getting used to all the hormones... I feel great and ready to conquer the moon.

The hormones and changes

Juliana Fridman Oh well, if your partner feels like he needs to disappear and leave the house during your PMS days he better be prepared for this. I have 3x the hormones of a pregnant woman expecting one baby so you can imagine how much my poor husband has to deal with.

The expected day has arrived

Juliana Fridman Something is going wrong, one of the babies is in serious distress and it’s not possible to know why. I am also already in early labour. We needed to go into an emergency Caesarean NOW!

Super Hubbo Action

Juliana Fridman I was barely awake that whole afternoon and full next day after the caesarean. In the meantime, Jon has been the best father (and husband) anyone could wish for. Jon goes see the boys 24x7, he worries and celebrate every little step.

Breastfeeding Feelings... what a change

Juliana Fridman I have been using the hospital breast pump day and night since I woke up from all the drugs of the caesarean… I even wake up in the middle of the night to express.

A turn around on events, getting my health back

Juliana Fridman I wasn’t feeling that well, one week since the caesarean and I still don’t walk much, my water retention got worse, and I have some problems breathing, especially at night.

The beginning of the new beginning for Rafa and I

Juliana Fridman One of the things was what is called Pre-Eclampsia, hence why so much water in my body. Pre-eclampsia tends to be more frequent on multiples, they say it is rare for multiples NOT to have that.